Take a trip through time to bring to light rarely documented concerts, recordings, and anecdotes from the 50s, 60s, and 70s.

Saturday, February 11, 2017

SHINDIG Tour 1965

In 1965 the success of the Shindig television show on ABC television network prompted Selmur Productions to book a national package tour to include many of the show's regulars including host Jimmy O'Neill. The tour would also book national rock acts to supplant the show regulars. The first non-show regular announced was Linda Gail Lewis, the sister of Jerry Lee Lewis performing as Linda Gale. Shortly after that announcement, NEMS Enterprises revealed that Gerry and the Pacemakers would also join a portion of the summer tour. Los Angeles Rams lineman Rosie Greier, trying to start a signing career was also signed to join the tour. The Australian band the Newbeats headlined two portions of the tour bracketing Gerry and the Pacemakers.

The Shindig name was rather popular and many additional promoters tried to cash in on the name. Promoter Irving Weinhause put a another package tour on the road early in the year. Shindig '65 played two shows in California headlined by Gary Lewis & Playboys and then headed out nationally with Paul Peterson as the headliner. Their debut show in Phoenix came to the attention of Selmur Productions, who took out newspaper ads and bought time on local radio stations to inform fans that the Shindig '65 show was not affiliated with the Shindig TV show. Consequently the show bombed and Weinhause filed a lawsuit and Selmur Productions counter-sued. In terms of financial success, Selmur was definitely the winners as their tour drew the crowds.

Ad taken out by Selmur in Billboard magazine.

Below is a nearly complete listing - it has a few holes so please comment if you saw a show that's not on the list.

First leg headlined by The Newbeats with support acts Rosie Grier, Dixie Cups, The Hondells, Linda Gail along with show regulars John Andrea, Sue Thompson, Jim Doval & Gauchos

March 26, 1965 Fieldhouse, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA

April 1, 1965 Memorial Coliseum, Portland, OR

April 6, 1965 Civic Auditorium, Idaho Falls, ID

April 7, 1965 The Terrace Ballroom, Salt Lake City, UT

April 8, 1965 Auditorium Arena, Denver, CO

April 9, 1965 Memorial Hall, Salida, KS

April 11, 1965 Roberts Memorial Stadium, Evansville, IN

April 13, 1965 Veteran's Memorial Auditorium, Des Moines, IA

April 15, 1965 Auditorium, Milwaukee, WI

April 17, 1965 McCormick Place, Chicago, IL

April 18, 1965 Fair & Exposition Center, Fairgrounds, Louisville, KY

April 21, 1965 Music Hall, Houston, TX

April 22, 1965 Municipal Auditorium, Austin, TX

April 23, 1965 Memorial Auditorium, Dallas, TX

April 24, 1965 Civic Center Arena, Tulsa, OK

April 27, 1965 Memorial Hall, Kansas City, KS (two shows)

The second leg is headlined by Gerry and the Pacemakers with support acts Shirley Ellis, Dixie Cups, Rosie Grier, Willy Nelson, Joey Paige, Linda Gale along with show regulars Jim Doval & Gauchos. Linda Gale's contract was for 4 weeks but the response to her was good enough that she was extended to the entire tour.

April 29, 1965 Coliseum, Ft. Wayne, IN

April 30, 1965 Gardens, Cincinnati, OH

May 1, 1965 Veteran's Memorial Auditorium, Columbus, OH

May 2, 1965 Cobo Arena, Detroit, MI

May 3 ,1965 Civic Center, Lansing, MI

May 4, 1965 Stambaugh Auditorium, Youngstown, OH

May 5, 1965 Sports Arena, Toledo, OH

May 6, 1965 Grand Rapids, MI

May 7, 1965 Civic Center, Charleston, WVA (two shows)

May 8, 1965 Syria Mosque, Pittsburgh, PA

May 10, 1965 Bushnell Auditorium, New Haven, CT

May 12, 1965 Four Seasons Arena, Walpole, MA

May 13, 1965 Coliseum, Washington DC

May 14-16, 1965 Academy of Music, New York City, NY (five shows total)

May 18, 1965 War Memorial Auditorium, Rochester, NY

May 20, 1965 Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, RI

May 21, 1965 Hotel Philadelphia Ballroom, Philadelphia, PA

May 23, 1965 Civic Center, Baltimore, MD

May 23, 1965 The Dome, Virginia Beach, VA

May 26, 1965 Raleigh County Armory, Beckley, WVA

Third leg of the SHINDIG tour has a variety of talent. The Newbeats fill in as headliners for the last three shows originally planned for Gerry and the Pacemakers then Bobby Sherman takes over as the headliner for the western swing of the tour with support acts Dixie Cups, Linda Gale, Willy Nelson, Rosie Grier and show regulars Ronnie Dove, the Shindogs, Jim Doval & Gauchos

2 comments:

I attended the Shindig summer tour show, and the date of my experience is not shown here. Interestingly, you show 2 swings through Texas, and I don't see my Shindig date on either leg. I saw it at the Will Rogers Auditorium in Ft. Worth, Texas. I don't have a stub, so I don't know the date. By looking at the artists on some of these handbills, I would have to say that the show I saw would have been on the 2nd leg in June. I almost know the ones I didn't see, than who I did. That's why I think it was the 2nd leg because the lineup was so forgettable. I was disappointed they didn't have The Righteous Brothers. They did have Donna Loren, The Shindogs, Jim Dovel and the Gouchos, Rosie Grier....and I can't remember who else. Not sure if The Blossoms were on that tour or not. If not, it might have been The Dixie Cups. It was my 2nd rock & roll concert, the 1st having been the Rolling Stones, and the Will Rogers Colosseum. Ironically, I went to both of them by myself. I was a sophomore in high school. I hung out by the stage door, and got my program signed by Delaney Bramlett of the Shindogs. Of course he was nobody to be recognized in those days. But he played a big part in rock history later with Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, who included Eric Clapton, George Harrison and a host of great studio musicians such as Carl Radle & Jim Gordon, whom Clapton stole to form Derek & the Dominoes.

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About Me

A professional historian who specializes in rock n' roll history, I am usually buried deep in documents or microfilm searching for new information or confirming concert dates. Of course, I have a real job that pays the bills...this is for fun...honest!